Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 19th annual West Yorkshire Sacred Harp Day took place in Rothwell on Saturday before the third Sunday in November. Richard Mayers began the singing by leading 565, and John Copperwheat offered prayer.

Leaders: Martel Reynolds 49t; Karen Turner 47t; John Sprackland 49b; Joyce Smith 283; Werner Ullah 457; Jacoba Brunel 421; Joe Vickers 121; Sophie Lockhart 324; Calum Parker 383; Joanne Carlyle 29t; Derek Buckland 126; Emily Verrier 127; Jan Geerts 114; Sophie Phipson 282; Scarlett Lassoff 472; Tom Greig 89; Margaret Bradshaw 212; Steve Brett 406; Molly-Claire Gillett 217; Chris Coombs 475.

RECESS

Helen Brown called the class to order leading 105. Leaders: Hannah Land 351; Gerben Vos 214; Inga Buckland 36b; Edwin Macadam 288; Sunny Doyle 294; Tom Sprackland 558; Chal Zon 481; Sam Carter-Odem 340.

The memorial lessons were led by John Sprackland, who led 523. The class remembered the following singers who had passed away: Lynda Smith, Christopher Hart, Ken Prosser, Joyce Tyler, John Esplen, James McMahon, Simon White, Robert Laycock, Janet Wilcox, Dawn Jeffrey, Zareer Masani, Dinos Nearchous, Peter Child, and Gregory Marsh—England; Peter Polish—Wales; Uschi Nolte—Germany; Truus Rietveld-Brouwer—Holland; Susan Fetcho, P. Dan Brittain, Richard Mauldin, Dan Burk, Jeff Begley, Henry Guthery, Chloe Webb, Beverly Rollins Thompson, and Phillip Reeves—USA. Also remembered were the sick and housebound: Rob Mahoney, Cath Tyler, Daniel Oldham, Penny Verrier, Anne Altringham, Cäcilia Mann, and Els Ladage.

Leaders: Phil Tyler 157; Clara Potter-Sweet 131b; Matthew Parkinson 337; Jessica Beer 176t; Josh Lant 371; Clare Welford 440; Rowan Tinker 100; Mike Verrier 142; Sheila Girling Macadam 198. Hilary Blake asked the blessing before the meal.

LUNCH

Jacoba Bruneel called the class to order leading 106. Leaders: Jan Geerts 506; Helen Brown 411; Calum Parker 434; Sunny Doyle 300; Sam Carter 460; Molly-Claire Gillett 203; Clara Potter-Sweet 196; Matthew Parkinson 110; Joyce Smith 45b; Emily Verrier 200; Phil Tyler 442; Gerben Vos 344; Jessica Beer 269; Tom Greig 268; Claire Welford 532; Margaret Bradshaw 168; Edwin Macadam 236; Steve Brett 513; Karen Turner 112; Chris Coombs 103; Sheila Girling Macadam 377; Sophie Phipson 46.

RECESS

Josh Lant called the class to order leading 204. Leaders: Tom Sprackland 197; Hannah Land 436; Derek Buckland 504; Scarlett Lassoff 384; Joe Vickers 541; Inga Buckland 104; Richard Mayers 455; Mick Verrier and Connie Baldin 272; Sophie Lockhart 65; Werner Ullah 410t; Martel Reynold 162; Chal Zon 163b; Sunny Doyle 38b; John Sprackland 448t; Molly-Claire Gillett 278t; Gerben Vos 289; Emily Verrier, Connie Baldini, and Charlotte Sumner 146; Calum Parker 227; Jessica Beer 549.

Richard Mayers thanked everyone for what had been a very energetic day of singing. Karen Turner gave the secretaries’ report, stating that fifty-seven registered singers sang eighty-four songs, led by forty leaders. Further thank-yous and announcements were made. The Treasurer’s report is that expenses have been met with a large surplus.

Richard Mayers led 145b as the closing song. Arja Copperwheat offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Richard Mayers; Secretaries—Hilary Blake and Karen Turner